The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-17
WHY REV. MR. BERRY STAYS.
His Letter to His woiverhampton Con
gregation-The Work OF the Church.

His Letter to HIS Wolverhampton Con-
gregation-The Work OF the Church.
ny Commercial Cable to New York Herald.
souniroKT. Lancashire. Dec. 10.
Ny Dear Friends.lTho invitation cx-
tended to me 10 succeed Henry Ward
Beecher in tho pastoratc OF Plymouth
church, Brooklyn, has received from mo
the long and earnest consideration which
its importance demanded. That invita-
ton was in every way extraordinary and
exceptional.
The Plymouth pulpit Is universally re-.
gardcd ~ one Of the most potent ccntcrs OF
worldwide influence. Associated with II
in undying luster Il the glory OF famous
name; attached 10 Il cling the memories OF
an unexampled ministry; round II gather
an eager and loving discipleship. Many
of the foremost servants oil the new ciyili-
zation look 10 II In anxious expectancy.
and from many lands turn 10 IL the OPP
pressed andst poor; the weary and the
doubling the plodding seekers after light
and the strcnuou toiles after liberty.
Therefore, when the call which invites
me 10 be It's new spokesman comes 10 me
laden with the weight Of n spontaneous
unanimity and the urgency Of a splendid
enthusiasm, II has been impossible To con-
slider this call within the customary limits
or TO decide II upon ordinary grounds.
You, rs /, have realized the wide reach.
ing importance Of the issue. From the
first YOU have seen with me that, In the
consideration Of this question, all purely
local and personal interests must bc rigor-
ously excluded, and that only the broadcast
claims In the denominationd and national
aspects must be admitted, also that dc.
cision must 10 taken under the solo and
sacred sanction OF duty 10 religion and hui
manity.
The broad questions thus submitted Ia
me have created an occasion Of pcrplcxity
and ceasclcS study, but have gratefully
| To acknowledge the generous assistance
and the valuable counsel Of ourown trusted
leaders and OF men in the front ranks Of
English aud national life, whose breadth ol
view, whose disintercstedncss, whose neal
for religion aud humanity have given ox.
ccptional weight 10 their representations
representations that are in every case
identical with those which you have urged
upon me. They relate 10 our own national
| Lie; 10 the questions religious, theological,
ecclesiastical and political-which arr
| coming up for settlement, and 10 the grow.
ing need In England for broad cyangcl.
ical pulpit, which shall make religion cred
table and effective, and which shall help
10 solve the pressing problems which loom
throateningly upon us.
mn MUST REMAIN ruEnE.
In view Of these representations I have
carefully and gratefully weighed your pro
posal TO give me such additional help NJ
shall preserve the effectiveness Of Queen
Street chapel, while libcmting me from
details and for larger service TO my faith
and fatherland. But I cannot deny that
your proposals, which are a. Intelligent rs
they are generous, have grown upon me
the moru | have considered them. You
offer me national work In England; you
urge upon mo with an afcctionaie per.
sisiencc the claims Of religion and home;
YOU promise me conditions OF assistance
favorable 10 the brightest service.
The call | admit u strong, and the
claims upon me bring painful anxiety. ]
have devoted 10 all these matters much
thought and prayer. Withdrawing myself
M far as possible alike from the natural
urgency OF emotion and from pleas OF self
/ interest.
At last my decision Ia taken. God gran,
Il be true one! I must remain In Eng